Mohammad Rizwan holds the record for the slowest fifty in Men’s T20 World Cup history, taking 52 balls to reach his half-century against Canada in 2024. He is followed by Mohammad Nadeem, who also took 52 balls, and David Miller, who reached his fifty in 50 deliveries. Over the years, a few other batters have also taken their time to reach the milestone in tough situations.
A slow fifty does not mean a batter failed to score freely. Often, the pitch conditions and match pressure demand careful batting. These players adjusted their game, stayed at the crease, and helped their teams in important moments. Keep reading to explore the full list and match details.
Top 10 Slowest Fifties In Men’s T20 World Cup History
Here is the list of the top 10 slowest fifties in World Cup history.
| Player | Balls to 50 | Final Score | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Rizwan (PAK) | 52 | 53* (53) | Canada | New York | 11 Jun 2024 |
| Mohammad Nadeem (OMN) | 52 | 53*56) | Sri Lanka | Pallekele | 12 Feb 2026 |
| David Miller (SA) | 50 | 59* (51) | Netherlands | New York | 8 Jun 2024 |
| Devon Smith (WI) | 49 | 51 (52) | Bangladesh | Johannesburg | 13 Sep 2007 |
| David Hussey (AUS) | 49 | 59 (54) | England | Bridgetown | 16 May 2010 |
| Suryakumar Yadav (IND) | 49 | 50* (49) | U.S.A. | New York | 12 Jun 2024 |
| Craig Ervine (ZIM) | 48 | 58 (54) | Scotland | Hobart | 21 Oct 2022 |
| Subash Khakurel (NEP) | 48 | 56 (53) | Afghanistan | Chattogram | 20 Mar 2014 |
| Gerhard Erasmus (NAM) | 48 | 53* (49) | Ireland | Sharjah | 22 Oct 2021 |
| Noor Ali Zadran (AFG) | 47 | 50 (48) | India | Gros Islet | 1 May 2010 |
1. Mohammad Rizwan: 53 (53) vs Canada
Pakistan were in a must-win situation at the 2024 T20 World Cup after back-to-back losses. Canada could score only 106/7 in their 20-over quota. Chasing 107 on a tricky Nassau County pitch was never easy.
Rizwan stepped out for his team and played a sensible knock. Rizwan batted through the innings for 53 not out but took 52 balls to reach his fifty, the slowest half-century in T20 World Cup history. The knock was criticised for its sluggishness, but it got the job done as Pakistan won by seven wickets.
2. Mohammad Nadeem: 53 (56) vs Sri Lanka
In the 16th match of the World Cup 2026, Oman was chasing 226 and never had a realistic chance against Sri Lanka on their home ground. They kept losing wicket as they were 3/36 after 6 overs.
But 43-year-old Mohammad Nadeem held firm at number four, finishing unbeaten on 53 to help his team to cross the 100-mark. His fifty came off 52 balls, equalling Rizwan’s record for the slowest in T20 World Cup history. More significantly, at 43 years and 161 days, he became the oldest player to score a fifty in any ICC tournament.
3. David Miller: 59 (51) vs Netherland
During a brief chase of 104 runs against the Netherlands, South Africa slumped to 12/4 inside five overs, with the Netherlands threatening to upset the Proteas. Miller walked in and refused to panic.
He shared a 65-run fifth-wicket stand with Tristan Stubbs and ended unbeaten on 59 from 51 balls, his fifty coming off 50 deliveries. It was a controlled, match-winning innings on a difficult pitch, as he led his team to victory by 4 wickets.
4. Devon Smith: 51 (52) vs Bangladesh
At the 5th match of the 1st-ever T20 World Cup in South Africa, Devon Smith opened for the West Indies against Bangladesh and scored 51 from 52 balls, reaching his fifty off 49 deliveries, a record that stood for 17 years as the slowest fifty in the tournament.
Smith shared a 95-run stand with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and the West Indies posted 164/8. But Bangladesh chased it down in 18 overs, winning by six wickets.
5. David Hussey: 59 (54) vs England
In the final of the 2010 edition, Australia were in early trouble, reduced to 8/3 inside three overs. David Hussey came in and steadied the innings with a 59 off 54 balls, his fifty taking 49 deliveries.
He shared a rescue partnership with Michael Clarke (27 off 27) and Cameron White (30 off 19), helping Australia recover to 147/6. England chased it down comfortably by seven wickets with three overs to spare, with Craig Kieswetter’s 63 off 49.
6. Suryakumar Yadav: 50 (49) vs USA
In the 2024 edition, USA scored 110/8, which was expected to be a low par score, but India were wobbling at 39/3 chasing on the tricky surface. Suryakumar came in and produced a completely uncharacteristic innings.
He put on an unbeaten 67-run stand with Shivam Dube and finished 50 not out from 49 balls, reaching his fifty off 49 deliveries. It wasn’t SKY’s usual 360-degree game, but it helped India win by seven wickets, securing their Super Eight spot with a game to spare.
7. Craig Ervine: 58 (54) vs Scotland
This was a must-win knockout game for Zimbabwe at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. Scotland set a target of 133; however, Zimbabwe slipped to 42/3 before captain Craig Ervine took control, playing the anchor role in a 64-run stand with Sikandar Raza.
Ervine’s 58 off 54 balls, and his fifty came off 48. Zimbabwe won by five wickets with nine balls to spare, topping Group B to qualify for the Super 12s for the first time in their history.
8. Subash Khakurel: 56 (53) vs Afghanistan
Nepal’s debut T20 World Cup campaign in Bangladesh produced one of Associate cricket’s memorable upsets. Opener Subash Khakurel anchored Nepal’s innings with 56 from 53 balls, reaching his fifty off 48 deliveries.
Nepal posted 141/5, and Afghanistan and Bangladesh could only manage 132/8 in reply. Nepal won by nine runs, and Khakurel became Nepal’s first player to score a fifty at the T20 World Cup.
9. Gerhard Erasmus: 53 (49) vs Ireland
In a must-win match against Ireland, Namibia had to chase 126 runs to reach the Super 12s for the first time. Gerhard Erasmus scored 53 not out from 48 balls and calmly led his team to victory with nine balls left.
David Wiese hit a quick 28 not out from 14 balls at the end and was named Player of the Match, but he gave credit to Erasmus. It was Namibia’s first win against a Test-playing nation
10. Noor Ali Zadran: 50 (48) vs India
It was Afghanistan’s first T20 World Cup match and also their first appearance in any major ICC tournament. They played against India in Saint Lucia. Opener Noor Ali Zadran scored 50 runs from 48 balls and shared a 68-run partnership with Asghar Afghan. Afghanistan made 115/8.
India chased the target in less than 15 overs and won by seven wickets. Even though Afghanistan lost, Zadran’s half-century was special, as it was the first T20 World Cup fifty by an Afghan player.
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Conclusion: Rizwan Holds The Record For The Slowest Fifty Off 52 Balls
Mohammad Rizwan’s 52-ball fifty in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup may be recorded as the slowest in the event’s history, but the situation made it extremely valuable. Pakistan had lost early wickets and the pitch was not easy for stroke play. Instead of attacking recklessly, Rizwan focused on building partnerships and rotating the strike. His composed innings helped stabilize the team and laid the foundation for an important win.
In high-pressure matches, strike rate does not always tell the full story. Players like Nadeem and David Miller have also played slow but crucial fifties when conditions were tough and wickets were falling. Such innings show maturity, game awareness, and the ability to read the match situation. A slow fifty in these moments often becomes the difference between collapse and victory.
